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Built in 1544, Southsea Castle was part of a series of fortifications constructed by Henry VIII around England's coasts to protect the country from invaders. Barely was the work completed when Henry VIII's flagship, the Mary Rose, tragically sank in front of the Castle. During the English Civil War, nearly a century later, the Castle was captured for the only time in its history, by Parliamentarian forces. Over the centuries, Southsea Castle's defences were strengthened so that it could continue to protect Portsmouth. In the 19th Century a tunnel was built to defend the Castle moat. Visitors can still enter the tunnel and see how the Castle would have been defended against invaders. The Castle has had many other uses besides defence. For a while it was a military prison. A lighthouse was built in the 1820s, and is still in use by shipping today. In 1960 the Castle left military service. It was acquired by Portsmouth City Council, which restored the Castle to its 19th century appearance.
HISTORY & FOLKLORE As part of the 2007 Spiritual Connexion Awards, we we’re invited as guests to film a Charity Ghost Hunt at Southsea Castle organised by Norie Miles of Portsmouth based Dark Encounters. Special Guests for the event were paranormal investigators Richard Felix (Most Haunted), Phil Whyman (Most Haunted) and Mark Webb (Haunted Homes). Although we were here in a professional capacity, we still found time to explore this fascinating location on various walk rounds and vigils. |
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MEV Productions / Spiral © 2008 |
